Erdoğan: Heavy punishment for gun owners
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the President of Turkey, announced the tightening of laws related to gun ownership and carrying following recent fatal shootings in schools across the country.
Speaking to journalists after the cabinet meeting in Ankara on Monday evening, Erdoğan stated: “The government will impose stricter measures regarding firearm ownership. This includes heavier penalties for those who are negligent in securing their weapons, especially in cases where firearms are accessible to children.”
The Turkish President added that additional legal regulations have been established to restrict gun ownership, and a comprehensive policy document along with an action plan will be implemented.
Erdoğan also warned about the negative impacts of the digital world on children, saying, “Today’s world is no longer what it used to be. Online interactions and social media can have a profound effect on young people’s development.” Noting the increase in time children spend in virtual spaces compared to family interaction, he warned about the dangers of unsupervised environments and algorithm-driven content, describing this situation as a “complex challenge” that requires coordinated, multi-dimensional solutions.
It is worth noting that in two separate incidents last week in the southeastern province of Kahramanmaraş, students opened fire, resulting in the deaths of eight students and one teacher. These events deeply shocked Turkey, where school violence is extremely rare.
